Arsenal face an uphill battle as they travel to St. James’ Park on Wednesday night, looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
Match Preview
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners head into this crucial tie riding high on momentum after a resounding 5-1 victory over Manchester City in the Premier League. They’ve now won four consecutive matches across all competitions, and their attack is firing on all cylinders. However, despite their strong form, the first-leg defeat at the Emirates looms large, where wasteful finishing cost them dearly.
On the other side, Eddie Howe’s Magpies had been in scintillating form leading up to the first leg but have stumbled recently with back-to-back defeats at home. Still, they’ll draw confidence from their clinical performance in North London, where goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon secured a valuable two-goal cushion.
With the Toon Army creating an electrifying atmosphere at St. James’ Park, Newcastle will look to frustrate Arsenal and book their place in the final. However, an early Arsenal goal could flip the tie’s dynamics, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.
📅 Match Details
- Date: Wednesday, 5 February 2025
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
- Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle, England
- Referee: Simon Hooper
- VAR: John Brooks
⚔️ Head-to-Head (Last 5 Matches)
- Newcastle: 3 wins
- Arsenal: 2 wins
- Draws: 0
- Last Meeting: Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle (7 January 2025) – Carabao Cup
🔥 Current Form (All Competitions)
Newcastle:
- Newcastle 1-2 Fulham
- Southampton 1-3 Newcastle
- Newcastle 1-4 Bournemouth
- Newcastle 3-0 Wolves
- Newcastle 3-1 Bromley
Arsenal:
- Arsenal 5-1 Man City
- Girona 1-2 Arsenal
- Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
- Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb
- Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa
⚠️ Team News
Newcastle United
- In: Nick Pope returns from injury and may start ahead of Martin Dubravka.
- Out: Callum Wilson (hamstring), Harvey Barnes (hamstring), and Jamaal Lascelles (long-term injury).
- Available: Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar return from suspension.
🔑 Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):
Pope; Livramento, Schar, Botman, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Arsenal
- Out: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain sidelined.
- In: Ethan Nwaneri could start after his impressive display against Man City.
- Rotation: Minimal expected due to Arsenal’s upcoming winter break in Dubai.
🔑 Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Havertz, Trossard
💡 Key Battles to Watch
- Alexander Isak vs William Saliba
- Isak’s movement and finishing were pivotal in the first leg. Saliba will need to be at his best to neutralize Newcastle’s primary goal threat.
- Bruno Guimaraes vs Declan Rice
- A midfield duel that could dictate the tempo. Rice’s defensive discipline will be crucial against Guimaraes’ creative spark.
- Anthony Gordon vs Jurrien Timber
- Gordon’s pace and directness caused problems in the first leg. Timber’s positional awareness will be tested.
🔍 Prediction
Arsenal’s recent goal-scoring form and attacking intent suggest they’ll dominate possession and create chances. However, Newcastle’s defensive resilience at home, combined with the raucous St. James’ Park crowd, will make this a tough challenge.
Expect Arsenal to grab an early goal, increasing the pressure on the hosts. But Newcastle’s counter-attacking prowess could prove decisive if Arsenal overcommit.
Final Score Prediction:
Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal (Newcastle win 2-1 on aggregate)
Expect a tense, drama-filled second leg with Arsenal pushing hard, but Newcastle holding on to secure a place in the final.
